Dave Rat - Roadies in the Midst

I feel like a little kid I am so excited! Today my adventure was to head to the amazingly cool Christiania with an amazingly cool human with an amazingly cool purpose. Today I hung out with Woody and wandered Free Town, capturing video and photos of as he interviews people that live in Christiania with the purpose of documenting the plight that this incredible community faces. When edited and finished you will find video of this story and more, including a magical exclusive interview with the Peppers on Woody's web site called http://www.voiceyourself.com. I will not forget to let you know when he has it up. Today was an adventure I will never forget and will always love to remember.

Regardless of who we talked to, there was one clear and common thread of heart felt pure and caring passion. They spoke of the community as if they were referring to a living entity that was their own child with a meaning and purpose that far exceeded the physical boundaries it occupies. It is a concept, a living ideal, and experiment in forming the perfect harmonious relationship between group of humans seeking a common goal and the natural environment and it is being destroyed. They declared their independence, they are their own country autonomous, they have their own council that decides solely by unanimous agreement and they are being dismantled one brick at a time.

Our first stop was for some food and I had the most stunningly delicious vegetarian meal of my life while sitting on a cold low concrete wall behind the restaurant chatting with locals. I don't recall the restaurant name but it is the one with the wooden sign with a girl holding a plate. If you go to Christiania, just ask anyone and without doubt, a kind friendliness will guide you there with sincere smiles. We hung out with the staff

as I watched in awe at the outpour of emotion telling their story. I stood in near silence holding a video camera. It ruled!!! We went on to circumference the lake and any and everyone we talked to felt as open and pure as best friend could be. Willing and hungry to share every nuance with pride and dismay. I kept finding myself wishing that the story was not such a sad overlay upon fond memories of days past. Next we were off to a Sports Club, coffee for me and speed chess for Woody to meet more cool people in an alcohol free sports bar. I thought this cell charger block was incredibly cool

To me it just so simply symbolized the fabric from which this community is woven. Freedom allows those with which you do not agree to be elsewhere as much as it allows you to follow your own dreams. Like a predatory pack of dream-hunting hyenas attacking a peaceful buffalo, Christiania is under being preyed upon by those that wish to consume her. Their destiny is grim as the property values of the haven built by love is now overwhelmingly tempting to those that originally had cast her aside as a discarded wasteland. It resonates in the same way art collectors savor the creations of artists with which they disagree with the lifesyle led by the creators. Go find the movie Barfly! I can't help but wonder why the society I live in takes such a belligerent stance toward self indulging naturally occurring substances and is so open to life crushing alcohol. What entities or organizations motivate the hypocrisy and why, when cats are permitted catnip and koala bears live a life inebriated by eucalyptus just as bears will consume fermented fruits. Anyway, whether one agrees with the open acceptance of natural 'soft drugs' and non greed-driven life style, I can't imagine it not hurting your heart on some level to see something so unique and beautiful,

irreplaceably vanish forever.

To each their own as long as it does not infringe on others and as with many things, though their future looks grim, surprises can be built and we never truly know what can happen next.

The supporting of those who dedicate their lives to pursing their dreams,

Dave Rat

P.S. Thank you Woody!